AC Materials is part of the Square Group, recycles construction and demolition debris, supplies aggregates and ready-mixed concrete; has sites in Bruges, Desteldonk, Wondelgem, Vlierzele and Puurs, and has been a customer of Geha and Laverman for more than 20 years.
How this could happen, we asked Stefaan Depauw, responsible for maintenance and engineering at AC Materials: 'We crush almost a million tonnes of rubble, asphalt and concrete a year. We work 5/7 and that means quite a few wear parts go through. You can't really depend on one supplier and, to be honest, we have several, but over the years it turns out that we very often choose Geha Laverman (which used to be Laverman). 'If, due to unforeseen circumstances, you call at night for something you want to have delivered the next day, all too often you get an answering machine that tells you extensively about the opening hours. Well, then you don't quite understand!'
'At AC Materials, we pay very close attention to costs. Competition is cut-throat in Belgium. So the devil's dilemma is the choice between price and delivery time... bit unwise for me to say this in front of Arie.'
Never a setback or an unforgivable miss? Stefaan thinks hard and explains with a broad smile: 'It's been at least five years. A rotor was delivered with the wrong direction of rotation, so the drive was on the wrong side. What caused that, we will never know, and maybe you don't want that at a time like that, 'force majeur'! The fact that you only realise this at the very last moment - the rotor was already hanging in the hoists - makes it very special. Then you do have a difficult time. Fortunately, Geha Laverman and Pralltec solved the problem quickly. Perhaps this low point made the relationship stronger. At a time like this, it comes to light what your relationship is really worth, what you are prepared to do for each other'.
Find out more about AC Materials: www.acmaterials.be
